Chaplaincy

Ellie completed Stepping Up in April 2022, she worships at Hull Minster and serves as a welcomer and assistant verger. Ellie spent time listening and exploring where God might be calling her to ‘Step Up in mission’ and discovered it was to be with the young people at Archbishop Sentamu Academy in East Hull. In Ellie’s words:

“I didn’t have a clue where my calling was going to be. I am now working alongside Revd Anne Richards in the chaplaincy team, and I love it!”

Ellie’s time in the school always beginning with Morning Prayer with the chaplaincy team in the chapel, which she sees as such an important start to the day.

The chapel is a safe space, where students can come if they need some support. Ellie enjoys being with the young people, this may be lighting a candle, saying a prayer, just being beside someone quietly. It may be someone is going through loss/grief, they may have had a fall out with someone, just finding things a little difficult, they may not always be aware of why they’ve come, they just need some quiet time out & someone to listen to them.

Ellie spends some of her time mentoring, working one-to one with students who are going through difficult times, being with them, listening to them and working at their pace. Ellie has wonderful creative gifts and will often use these as she works with students.

Tuesday lunchtimes, Ellie leads a session in the chapel for students to connect and reflect using arts and crafts. Using different art materials and prayer stations to help the young people reflect and connect with themes from collective worship and what is happening in their lives and the world around us.

Creating a Peace Garden recently helped students to think about peace when the world seems scary and full of conflict. The young people enjoyed the opportunity to be creative and produce something beautiful together, whilst chatting about questions like: I feel at peace when ….I wish there was more peace in ….Peace happens when ….

Around 40 students regularly join these lunchtime sessions, which include singing and dancing on other days. A smaller group gather each week to explore faith using Rooted providing space for each person to grow and flourish, starting with where they are, their interests and passions.

The Mustard Seed values of Listening, Being With and Sharing Faith are at the heart of all that Ellie does at Archbishop Sentamu Academy.